tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post3513462745905946701..comments2024-03-01T06:49:59.106-05:00Comments on Behind the Bit: Easy to love: PoniesStacey Kimmel-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-74056499264541574172012-05-05T12:49:03.509-04:002012-05-05T12:49:03.509-04:00What an awesome pony!! My friend is pondering get...What an awesome pony!! My friend is pondering getting a horse/pony for her 5 year old daughter and I sure wish there was something like this available!!<br /><br />As to the canter work if you have ground poles available to use I know people that had great results in using these to help get a) more uphill & precise canter transitions and b) more balanced, uphill canter work. <br /><br />GoodMarnie Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241962543917686722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-47041343896971011472012-05-04T22:23:15.871-04:002012-05-04T22:23:15.871-04:00Very cute pony. In re. to the canter work. What ...Very cute pony. In re. to the canter work. What has worked for me is first focus on getting the canter moving; what's the one thing we always hear at the lower levels -- more activity. Work on the forward movement and keep his head up. It's their job to hold-up their head. I do agree w/ Mike's recommendation too. Its really a matter of what works for your horse.<br /><br />HappyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-64873530890081842232012-05-04T22:02:56.892-04:002012-05-04T22:02:56.892-04:00In response to improving the canter:
With my own ...In response to improving the canter:<br /><br />With my own gelding, I didn't get a truly workable canter until I began incorporating counter canter into my regular workload. It started with just going from the corner to the quarterline, with only one or two counter canter strides. Eventually, as in 6 months down the line, we were able to do 20m circles in counter canter. A few months Suziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02885497585789392221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-72938165831563888822012-05-04T21:51:33.036-04:002012-05-04T21:51:33.036-04:00Do you use cavaletti at all? When I was working my...Do you use cavaletti at all? When I was working my mare through her terrible canter (her butt would swing out to the side and it felt like riding an egg beater) having the cavaletti or just plain pvc ground poles really helped. Ask for the transition over the pole and hold it. If you set them up on a circle you can use it as a transition point nicely. If you space 3 or 4 of them at a canter Saranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-78650174213241110092012-05-04T19:54:19.083-04:002012-05-04T19:54:19.083-04:00Have you tried alternating between counter bending...Have you tried alternating between counter bending and leg yielding on a circle?? I've used this exercise a lot with my bunch- and it improves the 'jump' in the canter, thus making it more uphill and balanced. <br />To elaborate- on a circle, slowly bend the horses head to the outside, so that the horse is literally looking towards the outside. Use your inside leg to keep the pace (Leeshhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08504626914889252270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-87028998420675842862012-05-04T19:27:40.255-04:002012-05-04T19:27:40.255-04:00Lovelovelovelove ponies!! That's about all I c...Lovelovelovelove ponies!! That's about all I can say ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027506283334634298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-86134900696375007202012-05-04T19:25:42.073-04:002012-05-04T19:25:42.073-04:00I could be totally off base here but given you men...I could be totally off base here but given you mention that the canter starts well, that you think you're tensing up, and also that it's due to wanting him to keep cantering, I'm guessing that you might find that the real, and really, really common problem is that you're too mentally focused on the quality of the canter and not enough on his responsiveness to your aids. (I do FDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485030894416936129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-59670047038037402022012-05-04T18:25:50.478-04:002012-05-04T18:25:50.478-04:00My two cents...
When your seat comes forward with ...My two cents...<br />When your seat comes forward with the swing of the canter stride, accentuate the "up" of the swing instead of pushing the pommel forward toward his ears, which pushes his forehand down. You could even let your seat rise just above the saddle at the top of the stride and see if your horse will meet you there. Leave the canter before the niceness wavers.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-50477789116700084822012-05-04T17:31:20.547-04:002012-05-04T17:31:20.547-04:00I agree with Mike about the transitions. Excellent...I agree with Mike about the transitions. Excellent technique. Makes you use your half halt and you can gradually turn full transitions into "Half transitions" where you do not break to the lower gait but do a kind of "hesitation" stride or two in the canter and then go on. <br /><br />Leg yield to the wall in the canter can also help the horse stride under better. <br /><br />Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029423500476995817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-90610797452050722432012-05-04T16:51:49.626-04:002012-05-04T16:51:49.626-04:00The best way to improve the canter is through freq...The best way to improve the canter is through frequent transitions, rather than by more canter. I like to work on a 20 meter circle and do transitions every 10 strides . . . or every six strides . . . really whatever works for you. The transitions will help him step under himself and re-balance. I prefer Canter/Trot transitions at first.Liz Goldsmithhttp://www.equineink.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-89037516055196181692012-05-04T16:44:51.044-04:002012-05-04T16:44:51.044-04:00Forward Forward Forward. He's got to get his h...Forward Forward Forward. He's got to get his hind legs under him to get off the forehand. The best way to teach that is forward forward forward- don't worry about him being on the bit - push you hands forward and GO. He should be immediately responsive to seat and/or leg.<br /><br />If he's not, go back, push your hands forward and GO. Don't worry about his back or his connection MizScarletthttp://vegasgrits.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-8961993618300222042012-05-04T13:04:17.876-04:002012-05-04T13:04:17.876-04:00Oh, Mike beat me to it.....transitions, transition...Oh, Mike beat me to it.....transitions, transitions, transitions......and MORE transitions! :-) If I (as an AA) could create a decent canter in a Standardbred and compete her successfully through First Level, you can do it with Riley!!Clover Ledge Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03980479474173795906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-6231122676559446002012-05-04T11:11:39.851-04:002012-05-04T11:11:39.851-04:00I feel like that too, my horse is too much on the ...I feel like that too, my horse is too much on the forehand in the canter. Here's what works for me: Don't look down, my instructor has me look up. The important thing for me is not to tilt my head down..seems to put him on the forehand. This works especially well in downward transitions.Annenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-15251183470537015112012-05-04T10:38:01.715-04:002012-05-04T10:38:01.715-04:00Being I am 5'2", I have no CHOICE but to ...Being I am 5'2", I have no CHOICE but to love ponies. Also, my Friesian is crossed with a Welsh sec D and my rescue is a pony mare. SO ... with all that said, it is a totally different ride. But, ponies are smart. If you get one on YOUR SIDE, there is NO beating it. It's like having a good mare at any size. Once they are in your pocket and for your cause ... acting as your team Friesianwelshxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11559821379568055421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-27082707118033820472012-05-04T09:05:00.525-04:002012-05-04T09:05:00.525-04:00Cute music and an adorable pony. Tactful rider who...Cute music and an adorable pony. Tactful rider who actually "fit" him quite well. Thanks for this. I need a happy horse video right about now (upset stomach and fierce headache--and no time in my schedule for either one).TBDancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889066602819359591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-81981470774390219942012-05-04T09:04:26.264-04:002012-05-04T09:04:26.264-04:00To improve the canter, do transitions, transitions...To improve the canter, do transitions, transitions, transitions. To be precise, transition from canter to walk or halt - absolutely do not allow him to fall out of the canter into the running trot. At first you might only do a few strides of canter and than back to the walk. Soon he will begin to anticipate the transition to walk and slow himself down as he re-balances in preparation for it. Mikehttp://www.mikeschaffer.comnoreply@blogger.com